#  Compact metalens depth sensor inspired by spiders 

 





November 13, 2019

 

 

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   ![Spider eye metalens](/sites/g/files/omnuum6306/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/capasso/files/spider_eye_metalens.jpg?itok=Ivxqdb8j) 

 

 In recent work, we have shown that a multi-functional metalens can be designed to mimic the eyes of a certain class of spiders found in nature, whose multi-layered retinae allow for the acquisition of multiple images at varying degrees of focus. From these multiple images, a depth image can be determined with minimal computational heft (easily enough to be processed in real time in the tiny brain of a jumping spider). In our work, we show that the co-design of a metalens and a computer vision algorithm permit the realization of a flexible depth camera. This work was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and can be found [here](https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1912154116). Please see a press release from Harvard SEAS [here](https://www.seas.harvard.edu/news/2019/10/compact-depth-sensor-inspired-spiders).



 

 

 



 

 

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